Warmer for motor-cars.



J. G. THARP.

WABMER FOR MOTOR CARS.

urucmon man 3.1. ms.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

JAMES G. THARP, OF INDIANOLA, IOWA.

warmer. roa Moron-cans.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

Application filed March 7. 1816. Serial No. 82,533.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. THAnr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of lmliunola, in the county of Warren and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Warmer for Motor-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a warmer for motor cars of comparatively simple, durable and inexpensive construetion, especially adapted for warming the steering wheel.

A further and more particular object is to provide a resistance coil mounted on or in the steering wheel of a motor vehicle, and to provide means for connecting said coil with a source of electrical energy, whereby the coil may be heated for imparting heat to the steering wheel.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a steering wheel equipped with a device embodyin my invention.

I ig. 2 shows an enlarged, detail view partly in section, with parts broken away, showing the manner in which my device is mounted on the wheel.

Fig. 3 shows a. sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and

Fi 4 shows a sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally the dash of a motor vehicle on which is supported the steering rod sleeve 11 in which is received the steering rod 12. At the .upper end of the steering rod is a steering wheel 13, having a socket 14 mounted on the sleeve 11 and operatively connected with the steering rod 12 in any suitable way.

It is well known that in cold weather it is difiicult to keep the hands warm while holding the steering wheel. I have, therefore, devised a means for keeping the steering wheel warm. In connection with my -device I preferably use a hollow steering wheel, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which may be made of insulating material or lined therewith.

Located suitably on the vehicle is a source of electrical ener y 15. Connected with'the battery or the li e 15 are the current conducting wires 16 and 17. Somewhere in the circuit is arranged a switch 18. The wires 16 and 18 are inserted into the lower end of the steering post sleeve 11 and extend upwardly to a point near the upper end thereof where they emer e from openin s 19.

Mounted on the s ceve 11 near tie up er )ortion thereof, is a bracket 20 having locks of insulation material 21 clamped or mounted therein on opposite sides of the sleeve 11.

Mounted on the socket 14 is a commutator comprising the hollow cylinder 22 of insulating material. Mounted on the cylinder 22 are parallel rings 23 and 24 which may be of copper or other suitable conducting material. The rings 23 and 24 are spaced from each other and are supported by a rib or bead 25 of the insulating material.

Mounted on the insulating material on one end of the bracket 20 is a brush 26 adapted to coact with the lower ring 24, and mounted on the insulating material on the other end of the bracket 20 is a brush 27 adapted to coact with the upper rin 23. The wires 16 and 17 are connected wi the res ective brushes 26 and 27. 1;

n the steering wheel 13 is a resifi'tance coil 28 which is connected by the wires 29 and 30 to the respective rings 24 and 23.

When the device has been installed upon a motor vehicle and it is desired to warm the steerin wheel 13, the switch 18 is manipulate for closing the circuit. It will readily be seen that heat will be generated in the resistance coil and transmitted to the steering wheel 13. The arts can be so constructed and arranged t at the proper dew grce of heat may be generated.

()ne of the problems involved in using the resistance coil for heating the steerin wheel arises from the necessity of permitting the wheel to rotate freely on the sleeve 11. If the commutator were not used, it would involve twistin the current conductin wire. I have there ore mounted on the soc et the commutator whereby all twisting of the wires is obviated, and at the same time manner of mounting the same on the masteering column, a pair of spaced independchine, and it is my intention to cover by ent conducting rin fixed to said collar this application any such modifications of means for electricall y connecting each 0t structure which may be included -Within the said rings with the heating unit, a pair of in reasonable scope of my claims. brushes adapted to be fixed to said sleeve of I claim as my invention: the steering column and each adapted to In a device of the class described, a heatcoact with one of said rin and means for ing element adapted to be disposed within a connecting each of said iushes with one steering wheel, a collar of insulating matepole of a source of electrical energy. 20 rial fixed to the wheel and adapted to ro- Des Moines, Iowa, December 31, 1915. tate around the supporting sleeve of the JAMES G. THARP. 

